Definitely a thing I've noticed with more recent mums, even some inverse snobbery too with a few making much of getting second hand and cheaper models.
Mums going through 3-4 prams per child - utterly ridiculous!
I got a 3 wheeler travel system one for dd (yea I'm old, dd 18 now) it wasn't quite so much of a thing then but i fell for the "3 wheelers are easier to manoeuvre" rubbish, it was a pita!
I bought a VERY cheap umbrella fold (think it was £15?) for a beach holiday thinking it'd probably get trashed on the holiday - that buggy was fabulous! Dd loved it, it was easy to manoeuvre, fit easily in doorways and shops, dead easy to use on public transport or fling in the car, could fold it one handed, massive basket under that could hold a long weekends worth of shopping and as it had 2 "spoke" handles rather than one "bar" handle could pop bags on the handles too! Lasted till dd past the buggy stage, I was the one missed using it as a shopping trolley!
Spending hundreds even thousands on one seems truly daft to me! The kid only cares if they're comfy, mum's priority should be ease of use but too many are more concerned with looks and status.
Occasionalnachos - honestly, please consider actual real life use! A big silver cross carriage style IS gorgeous, it's what my mum had for me - BUT she walked EVERYWHERE, living in a city makes that much easier, AND it was in the days you could safely leave it outside the shop and it wouldn't get nicked! Even with the baby in it! (I know mn would be apoplectic at that now!)
BUT these days you want one you can fit in shop doors without having to wait for someone to open double doors, or praying there automatics, fits down the aisles of narrow shop layouts, not to mention places like gp surgeries, is easily manoeuvrable, that folds easily (seriously some are an engineering feat just to collapse/put up! If you're days post section/painful birth you really don't want that faff with a baby you can't put on the floor!) is comfortable to push and holds a good amount of shopping or whatever.
Soon after I had dd there was a wave of them with crappy tiny baskets and handles you couldn't put bags on, my mum friends at that time HATED this as it's completely impractical.
Re pretty - there's lots can be done to "dress up" even the plainest pram and honestly once baby is here that'll be least of your concerns anyway.
I know at least one person, maybe 3? Who bought prams who had small cars and they didn't check if they could fit it in the car easily (ie without having to fold the rear seats!) before they bought them and ended up having to sell them at a loss and buy prams that fit!
Another factor DEFINITELY worth bearing in mind is how easy it is to get parts and accessories for it, some are much better catered for than others.
My cheapy one being from mothercare meant it was easy to get a sunshade, replacement raincover (friends child trashed original 😡) and cup holder that fit.